Pincers for wire-drawing blocks



Patented Oct. 31, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PINCERS FOR WIRE-DRAWING BLOCKS Thomas Noponen, Worcester, Mass.

Application September 22, 1943, Serial No. 503,429

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved pincers of the type used in the wire-drawing industry for exerting a pull on wire to be drawn through a conventional form of die for reducing the gauge or diameter of the wire. I

In the normal use of conventional forms of pincers heretofore used, operators have been subject to the hazard of having either their fingers, or gloves worn for protection, caught between the pincers and wire-drawing block. The primary object of the present invention is to provide safety means in the nature of a projection such as an ear, lug; or stud, extended laterally from the operating arms of the pincers, so that the operator can safely grasp the projection and exert a finger pressure on the pincers without the danger of injury to his hands.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a conventional wire-drawing block and juxtaposed die, showing pincers of the present invention operatively connected with a conventional wire-drawing block for pulling the wire through the die.

Figure 2 is an elevation of parts shown in Figure 1, with the die holder shown in section.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line III-III of Figure 2, indicating the manner in which the operator exerts finger pressure on the pincer operating arms.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l represents'a conventional form of wire-drawing block which is rotatably mountedon the usual form of draw-bench in any suitable manner. In juxtaposition to the block is a suitable die holder I2 carrying a conventional wire-drawing die I4 for reducing the gauge of the wire to which is adapted to be pulled therethrough by the pincers of the present invention, indicated as a whole at IS. The pincers comprise wire-gripping jaws l8-l8 pivotally connected to one another by a stud 20, the jaws having formed integrally therewith operating arms 22 apertured at 24 for engagement with links 26 which are connected by a swivel fitting 28 and link 30 with a hook 32 adapted to be engaged with an aperture 34 formed in the periphery of a conventional wire-drawing block III.

In the normal operation of wire-drawing apparatus heretofore generally used, the operator is frequently injured'in the act of connecting the pincers with the leading end of thewire w to be drawn, because of necessity in starting the wire-- drawing operation, the leading end of the wire is pointed and pushed through the die, then gripped between the jaws of the pincers and the hook 32 engaged by hand with a block which must be caused to rotate in order that the pull on the links 26 will cause a gripping of the jaws onthe wire. In the conventional prior art practice the hand operation of making this initial engagement by the pincers was extremely hazardous, since the operators thumb was usually passed under one operating arm 22 and his forefinger or other fingers were placed over the top of the upper arm 22. Thus as the block In was rotated, there was a danger of the thumbs being caught between the flange lfla thereof and the lower arm 22, and the forefinger or other fingers being caught betweenthe upper'arm 22 and the periphery of the block Ill.

The characteristic and improved feature of the present invention resides in providing projections such as lugs, studs, or ears 36 which extend laterally from the arms 22 in the direction as shown,so that the operator can safely exert a pressure on said ears so as to close the jaws tightly on the wire; for example, by grasping the ears between his forefinger or other fingers and thumb, as clearly shown in Figure 3. Since the ears project laterally outward from the side side pincers remote from the block, it is clear that the danger of the operators hands being caught between the block and pincers is effectively prevented.

I claim: I 1. The combination with wire-drawing apparatus comprising a die and a. wire-drawing block,

of pincers having pivotally connectedjaws for gripping the wire to be drawn through the die by said block, operating arms for said jaws, and flexible means operatively connecting the arms with said block, said pincers being characterized by the novel feature of projections extended laterally from the operating arms thereof adapted to enable an operator to safely close the jaws tightly on the wire by gripping said projections and exerting finger pressure thereon.

2. Wire-drawing apparatus comprising, in-

combination, a die, a wire-drawing block, pincers havingpivotally connected jaws for gripping the wire to be drawn, and operating arms for the jaws connected by tension members to said block, said arms having finger projections extended laterally therefrom to enable an operator to safely close the jaws tightly on the wire by gripping said projections and exerting finger pressure thereon.

THOMAS NOPONEN. 

